Something diverted from the usual path -- by nature or adversity, by intention or invention -- like a BENT PIN, that something has a certain sharpness in an unexpected direction.
BENT PIN is an evolving vision, a small collection and an experiment. The first edition is just 29 works by 24 writers who range widely in age and experience. At least two are over 65. One is under 18. Authors represent six states, scattered from coast to coast. one lives in Austria.
Many would argue that each work should be offered on its own page. This is where the experiment comes into play. In this online journal, short poetry and prose will most often be featured by twos, in juxtaposition with artwork and without regard to genre. The pairings are by a kinship of some sort, perhaps topical, metaphoric, stylistic, technical, thematic. The combinations maybe complementary or oppositional. Perhaps other combinations might have been made. It is my hope that as readers wonder why works were paired that each work will be read and reread, and that the blurry lines between short fictions use of metaphor, image and heightened language, and poetry's use of prose and narrative will be pondered.
For those who cannot abide this arrangement, the Contributors Page features links to the works along with the genre of its submission.
Besides short fiction and poetry, BENT PIN will also offer three regular features: The Poem at Length, Story within Story, (where two stories are tucked inside each other like nested Russian dolls) and finally The Featured Essay.
I hope you enjoy and return.
"Mistryel" Mad Mar Walker,
Editor and Founder of BENT PIN Quarterly
